Self-forgive meditation.
Breathe with me.
Mind,
The troubles you've been holding onto aren't important anymore.
Let them go.
Release them.
Free yourself.
It's just you and I.
This is our moment for perspective and peace.
Remember,
Under any circumstance,
Event,
Or decision made,
You are truly doing the best you can.
Believe it.
Trust it.
Trust yourself.
Are you hard on others?
Are you frequently disappointed by others' actions,
Thoughts,
Or words?
How come?
Are they also not doing the best they can?
Are you hard on yourself,
Possibly even harder on yourself than you are on anyone else in the world?
Imagine,
If you will,
A crystal blue lake,
A beautiful day.
Along this lake's shore is a running trail.
The entirety of the trail is a mile long.
You begin to walk this trail,
Admiring the serene nature's landscape surrounding you.
Peaceful water to the left.
Lush,
Green forest to the right.
You begin to walk briskly.
You feel amazing as the soft,
Cool breeze wafting from the lake gently brushes through your hair on your skin.
Goosebumps form.
What a wonderful time to be alive.
You feel so good you start to jog at a decent pace.
Not too fast,
But comfortable.
You've never had more energy or felt more alive and at one with nature.
You're halfway across the lake now.
You feel as if you could do several laps.
The air in your lungs rejuvenates your soul and your feet are as light as feathers.
You are coming upon the home stretch,
Back to where you started from just a few short moments prior.
You are a quarter mile away,
Now 100 feet from your starting point.
50 feet.
Then you stop.
You are only 50 feet short of coming full circle and you don't move.
You look back and see how far you've come from across the lake.
You decide the last 50 feet just aren't worth it.
You sit down on the dirt path and think how easy it would be to go the last 50 feet,
But you don't.
You could,
But you choose not to.
Physically,
Mentally,
It is very possible and you are entirely capable,
But yet you don't.
Sounds ridiculous,
Yes?
Why would you not complete the circle,
Complete the journey,
Especially when you're all but done?
Why wouldn't you?
Because you would,
Every single time.
Again,
Please remember,
You are always doing the best you can.
If you can do better,
You will.
It isn't in our DNA to stop short of what we know is possible.
We always do our best and make the decision that is supposed to happen in the moment we are in according to the knowledge,
Energy,
And resources we have at our disposal.
Knowing you are always doing your best and you afford this notion to all those around you,
Especially to yourself,
You have now released judgment to those around you and have released it from yourself,
For yourself.
There is no need to judge when you know everyone,
Including yourself,
Is doing the best they can,
Always.
Is there room for improvement?
Of course.
But don't weigh your future potential on your current circumstances.
It is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength.
It is not requisite that a man or woman should do something,
Anything,
Which is beyond their capacity in the moment they are in.
Give yourself grace.
Give yourself time to improve.
Do we judge and reprimand the toddler who continues to fall time after time as they begin their journey in learning to walk?
Likewise,
Do we judge and reprimand the person who falls time and time again,
Struggling with the hardships they are currently dealing with,
But gets up after each fall?
The person who survives another day simply by existing?
Are they not enduring?
And what is it to endure?
One definition is to suffer.
I like this definition best.
To remain in existence.
To last.
The fact you are still here,
Even when you sometimes don't want to be,
Proves that you are enduring.
And because of your endurance,
You are worthy of forgiveness.
You have the God-given right to forgive those around you and to forgive yourself,
Always.
In fact,
We are commanded to do so.
When God tells us to forgive all men,
Does this not include ourselves?
Ask yourself,
Are there those whom you have chosen to not forgive?
If so,
I guarantee you will never be able to forgive yourself until you are able to forgive others.
What are you waiting for?
An apology?
Have you asked for one?
If not,
You never will.
And you won't get one.
Choose to forgive now.
Release yourself from the pain,
Suffering,
And malice you might have for someone and forgive them.
Release the emotional noose around your neck,
The tightening of your chest,
The ill will,
The pain in your soul,
For only you can do so.
Put the stone down that you have been carrying for so long,
Possibly years,
It is doing you no good and it's preventing your progression.
Let it go.
Put it down.
Let it go.
Now imagine,
If you will,
A younger version of yourself.
You may be 5,
10,
15,
Or 20.
Face yourself.
Admire the young innocence you once had.
See your hair,
The clothes you used to wear.
See your smile and look into your eyes.
See your desire at that age to do good,
To be good,
To make someone proud.
Your intentions were pure.
You are the same person today as you were then.
Look into your younger self's eyes.
Grab them by the shoulders and repeat after me.
I love you.
I'm proud of you.
And I forgive you for everything you've done and everything you will do because you are always doing your best.
Now embrace your younger self.
Hold them close.
Tell them they are okay and that they will be okay forever and always because you have each other and you're looking out for one another.
Now,
Extend your arms in front of you.
Hold them out as far as they can go.
Reach.
Now reach even further than before.
Take in a deep breath.
Now wrap your arms around yourself and embrace yourself.
Hug yourself and hold.
Say your name.
Now say,
I forgive you.
Stay in this moment as long as you'd like.
Let your heart fill at ease.
Let the heaviness of the negative emotions you've held onto for so long dissipate.
Let them go.
They no longer serve you.
You are free from the bondage you once had.
Now,
Who else do you need to forgive?
Now that you have forgiven yourself and have a higher capacity to forgive all,
Use it.
Who has wronged you in the past?
Who has wronged you recently?
Why haven't you forgiven them?
What are you holding onto?
How does this serve you?
If the begrudging emotions are only weighing you down,
Let them go.
Forgive them.
As you have forgiven yourself.
This step can take additional time.
Please set aside time today or tomorrow and reach out to those whom you have avoided.
Ask yourself if losing them is more important than your negative emotions.
I will tell you now,
It is not.
You are here on this earth to teach and learn from each other.
Everyone comes into our life for a purpose,
To teach us something,
And for us to teach them.
Don't take this opportunity lightly.
See the good in all and be the good in all.
Darkness cannot combat darkness.
Only light can chase away dark.
Seek the light.
Find the light.
Be the light.
And give your light to all around you.
Someone once gave you a portion of their light.
Or rather,
They held their torch,
Lifted it towards you,
And gently lit your torch,
Which had gone out for a moment,
Sharing their light with you.
Go and light another's torch today.
It doesn't take long.
A few seconds.
And it's completely free.
You are free.
Choose to be the light and find someone to relight today.
You are free.
